My hand 1990

Curator: Alfred Freddy Krupa gifted us "My Hand" in 1990, a study in graphite and pencil. It has this raw, sketchbook vibe that really grabs you. Editor: It feels suspended, almost disconnected. There's an elegant linearity to the arm, but the hand itself seems to bear the weight of some unseen burden. It’s all in how Krupa’s play with light and shadow defines its form. Curator: Burden, yeah. Or maybe it's more like that feeling of holding onto something fragile, like a secret? You can almost see the tremor in the lines, the artist really felt what he drew, didn't he? Editor: Undoubtedly. The hatching technique employed accentuates the three-dimensionality, pulling the hand forward. Yet, the lack of background plunges it into a spatial ambiguity. Look at the network of lines around the knuckles—each stroke seems intentional, almost anatomical in precision, contrasting with the looser treatment of the forearm. Curator: Absolutely, but beyond precision, for me, it captures this essence, this deep dive into self-observation, right? A hand – simple as that may seem – becomes a landscape of its own. There's something vulnerable about exposing a simple thing, a tool that speaks volumes about who we are. It really begs the question: what does this particular hand DO? Editor: That invites a biographical interpretation – what were the artist's daily manual tasks and struggles. But even divorced from biographical specifics, the piece commands attention because of its internal aesthetic consistency and precise calibration. It presents itself, simply and elegantly. Curator: Maybe that's the genius, no? Like holding a mirror to ourselves. And through its lines, shadows, simplicity and intimacy, Krupa allows you, maybe even challenges you, to truly "see." And once you’ve looked, the hand is there, suspended, waiting. Editor: Indeed. “My Hand” acts, finally, as a powerful exploration of form, shadow, and intention, its artistic presence far outweighing the modesty of its chosen subject. It's worth a careful consideration for any viewer interested in line art.